Mixed-ligand chelate extraction of trivalent lanthanides with 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione and neutral oxo-donors.

Mixed-ligand chelate extraction of trivalent lanthanides such as Nd(III), Eu(III) and Lu(III) into benzene with mixtures of 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione (HBFA) and bis-2-ethylhexyl sulphoxide (B2EHSO) or triphenylphosphine oxide (TPhPO) from thiocyanate solutions was investigated. The results demonstrate that these metal ions are extracted as Ln(BFA)(3) with HBFA alone and in the presence of a neutral oxo-donor, B2EHSO or TPhPO(S), as Ln(BFA)(3).S and Ln(BFA)(3).2S. The equilibrium constants of the above species increase monotonically with decreasing ionic radii of these metals ions. The addition of a neutral donor to the metal chelate system not only enhances the extraction efficiency but also improves the selectivity among these trivalent lanthanides. Hence this mixed-ligand system may be useful for the extraction and separation of individual lanthanides and also for the separation of lanthanides as a group from other metal ions.